Method for compensating the frequency dependent phase imbalance

ABSTRACT

A method for compensating the frequency dependent phase imbalance in a receiver is provided. The receiver downconverts an input signal to generate the signal r(t). The signal r(t) has an in-phase component r I (t) and a quadrature component r Q (t). A first test signal with a first carrier frequency is applied as the input signal of the receiver to obtain a first phase imbalance I. A second test signal with a second carrier frequency is applying as the input signal of the receiver to obtain a second phase imbalance. An IQ delay mismatch Δt of the receiver according to the difference of the second and the first phase imbalances and the difference of the second and the first carrier frequencies is obtained. The in-phase component r I (t) and the quadrature component r Q (t) of the signal r(t) corresponding to other input signal is compensated according to the obtained IQ delay mismatch Δt.

This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 61/639,600, filed Apr. 27, 2012, the subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The invention relates in general to a method for compensating the frequency dependent phase imbalance, and more particularly to a method for compensating the frequency dependent phase imbalance in a receiver or a transmitter.

Description of the Related Art

Radio frequency (RF) system is widely adopted in wireless communication. Although RF system has the advantages of low cost and low power consumption, one of its main problems is IQ imbalance. Part of the IQ imbalance results from the mismatch of amplitudes between in-phase (I) and quadrature (Q) paths and local oscillators, and the phase shift is not exactly 90 degrees. The mismatches of amplitude and phase shift are called gain and phase imbalance. Since the IQ imbalance degrades the system performance considerably, it is a critical issue as how to provide a method for the RF system to compensate the IQ imbalance and improve the system performance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an aspect of the present invention, a method for compensating the frequency dependent phase imbalance in a receiver is provided. The receiver downconverts an input signal to generate a signal r(t). The signal r(t) has an in-phase component r_(I)(t) and a quadrature component r_(Q)(t). The method includes the following steps. A first test signal with a first carrier frequency is applied as the input signal of the receiver to obtain a first phase imbalance between the in-phase component and the quadrature component of the signal r(t) corresponding to the first test signal. A second test signal with a second carrier frequency is applied as the input signal of the receiver to obtain a second phase imbalance between the in-phase component and the quadrature component of the signal r(t) corresponding to the second test signal. An IQ delay mismatch Δt of the receiver according to the difference of the second phase imbalance and the first phase imbalance and the difference of the second carrier frequency and the first carrier frequency is obtained. The in-phase component r_(I)(t) and the quadrature component r_(Q)(t) of the signal r(t) corresponding to other input signal is compensated according to the obtained IQ delay mismatch Δt.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a method for compensating the frequency dependent phase imbalance in a transmitter is provided. The transmitter processes a baseband signal x(t). The baseband signal x(t) has a first component x_(I)(t) and a second component x_(Q)(t) which have angular frequency ω_(B). The method includes the following steps: (a) compensating the baseband signal x(t) with a predetermined delay amounts τ; (b) inputting the compensated baseband signal to an upconversion circuit to generate a radio frequency (RF) signal y(t); (c) inputting the RF signal y(t) to a delay information extractor to obtain a correlation value related to the information of the predetermined delay amount τ; (d) changing the predetermined delay amount τ and compensating the baseband signal x(t) again with the changed predetermined delay amount τ, and performing steps (b) and (c) again to update the correlation value; and (e) selecting a candidate delay amount (e.g., the closest delay amount) from the predetermined delay amount according to the correlation value, and compensating the transmitter by using the candidate delay amount.

The above and other aspects of the invention will become better understood with regard to the following detailed description of the preferred but non-limiting embodiments. The following description is made with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates the length difference of the transmission line L_(I) for in-phase signal and the transmission line L_(Q) for quadrature signal are I_(Q)−I_(I);

FIG. 2 is the flow chart illustrating a method for compensating the frequency dependent phase imbalance in a receiver according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of a simplified receiver used for explaining this example of the embodiment;

FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of a simplified receiver with the compensation circuit;

FIG. 5 shows the block diagram of the compensation circuit in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is the flow chart illustrating a method for compensating the frequency dependent phase imbalance in a transmitter according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 shows a block diagram of a simplified transmitter used for explaining an example of the embodiment of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 shows the block diagram of the compensation circuit in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 shows the block diagram of the upconversion circuit in FIG. 7; and

FIG. 10 shows the block diagram of one example of the correlateor in FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The First Embodiment

In practical receivers or transmitters, the IQ imbalance is frequency dependent, especially in the RF system with wide signal bandwidth. Part of the IQ imbalance results from that the length of transmission lines for the in-phase signal and the quadrature signal are different. As shown in FIG. 1, assume the length difference of the transmission line L_(I) for in-phase signal and the transmission line L_(Q) for quadrature signal are I_(Q)−I_(I), that is (d₂−d₁)·v_(p), d₁ and d₂ are transmission delay time for the in-phase signal and the quadrature signal, respectively, and v_(p) is the signal transmission velocity in the transmission lines. Frequency dependent phase imbalance φ satisfies the following equations:

$\frac{\left( {d_{2} - d_{1}} \right) \cdot v_{p}}{\lambda} = \frac{\phi}{360{^\circ}}$ $\phi = {360{{^\circ} \cdot \frac{\left( {d_{2} - d_{1}} \right) \cdot v_{p}}{\lambda}}}$ ϕ = 360^(∘) ⋅ (d₂ − d₁) ⋅ f_(B)

where λ is the wavelength of the signal, and f_(B) is the carrier frequency of the signal.

In practical receiver, the value of d₂−d₁ (i.e., IQ delay mismatch Δt) is unknown. According to one embodiment of the invention, a method for compensating the frequency dependent phase imbalance in a receiver is provided to find out the value of d₂−d₁ first, and then the receiver is compensated according to the obtained value of d₂−d₁.

A method for compensating the frequency dependent phase imbalance in a receiver according to one embodiment of the invention is described below. The receiver downconverts an input signal to generate the signal r(t). The signal r(t) has an in-phase component r_(I)(t) and a quadrature component r_(Q)(t). The method includes the following steps shown in FIG. 2. In step 202, a first test signal with a first carrier frequency is applied as the input signal of the receiver to obtain a first phase imbalance between the in-phase component and the quadrature component of the signal r(t) corresponding to the first test signal. In step 204, a second test signal with a second carrier frequency is applied as the input signal of the receiver to obtain a second phase imbalance between the in-phase component and the quadrature component of the signal r(t) corresponding to the second test signal. After that, step 206 is entered, and a IQ delay mismatch Δt of the receiver according to the difference of the second phase imbalance and the first phase imbalance and the difference of the second carrier frequency and the first carrier frequency is obtained. Then, step 208 is performed, and the in-phase component r_(I)(t) and the quadrature component r_(Q)(t) of the signal r(t) corresponding to other input signal are compensated according to the obtained IQ delay mismatch Δt.

The method is further explained with one example below. Referring to FIG. 3, a block diagram of a simplified receiver used for explaining this example of the embodiment is shown. Signal y(t) is inputted to the receiver 300, and signal y(t) is downconverted by mixers 302 and 304 to generate signal r(t), wherein signal r(t)=r_(I)(t)+jr_(Q)(t), r_(I)(t) is the in-phase component of r(t), and r_(Q)(t) is the quadrature component of r(t). The signal r(t) is, for example, a baseband signal. The r_(I)(t) and r_(Q)(t) can be represented as:

$\begin{matrix} {\begin{bmatrix} {r_{I}(t)} \\ {r_{Q}(t)} \end{bmatrix} = \begin{bmatrix} {{A\left( {1 + \frac{ɛ}{2}} \right)}{\cos\left( {{\omega_{B}\left( {t + d_{1}} \right)} - \frac{\theta}{2}} \right)}} \\ {{A\left( {1 - \frac{ɛ}{2}} \right)}{\sin\left( {{\omega_{B}\left( {t + d_{2}} \right)} + \frac{\theta}{2}} \right)}} \end{bmatrix}} \\ {= \begin{bmatrix} {{A\left( {1 + \frac{ɛ}{2}} \right)}{\cos\left( {{\omega_{B}t} + \left( {{\omega_{B}d_{1}} - \frac{\theta}{2}} \right)} \right)}} \\ {{A\left( {1 - \frac{ɛ}{2}} \right)}{\sin\left( {{\omega_{B}t} + \left( {{\omega_{B}d_{2}} + \frac{\theta}{2}} \right)} \right)}} \end{bmatrix}} \end{matrix}$

A is the amplitude, ε is gain imbalance, θ is phase imbalance, and ω_(B) is the angular frequency of carrier. Assume the gain balance ε is zero, then frequency dependent phase imbalance φ is:

$\phi = {{{{{phase}\left\{ {\sin\left( {{\omega_{B}t} + \left( {{\omega_{B}d_{2}} + \frac{\theta}{2}} \right)} \right)} \right\}} - {{phase}\left\{ {\cos\left( {{\omega_{B}t} + \left( {{\omega_{B}d_{1}} - \frac{\theta}{2}} \right)} \right)} \right\}} - \left\{ {{{phase}\left( {\sin\left( {\omega_{B}t} \right)} \right)} - {{phase}\left( {\cos\left( {\omega_{B}t} \right)} \right)}} \right\}} \sim {\frac{- \pi}{2} + \theta + {\omega_{B} \cdot \left( {d_{2} - d_{1}} \right)} - \frac{- \pi}{2}}} = {\theta + {2\;\pi\;{f_{B} \cdot \Delta}\; t}}}$

In step 202, a first test signal y₁(t) with a first carrier frequency f_(B1) is applied as the input signal of the receiver 300 to obtain a first phase imbalance φ₁ between the in-phase component r_(I1)(t) and the quadrature component r_(Q1)(t) of the signal r₁(t) corresponding to the first test signal y₁(t). The first phase imbalance φ₁ can be obtained as φ₁=θ+2π·Δt·f _(B1)=θ+360°·Δt·f _(B1)

In step 204, a second test signal y₂(t) with a second carrier frequency f_(B2) is applied as the input signal of the receiver 300 to obtain a second phase imbalance φ₂ between the in-phase component r_(I2)(t) and the quadrature component r_(Q2)(t) of the signal r₂(t) corresponding to the second test signal y₂(t). The second phase imbalance φ₂ can be obtained as φ₂=θ+360°·Δt·f _(B2)

In step 206, a IQ delay mismatch Δt of the receiver 300 according to the difference of the second phase imbalance and the first phase imbalance φ2−φ1 and the difference of the second carrier frequency and the first carrier frequency f_(B2)−f_(B1) is obtained by

ϕ₂ − ϕ₁ = 360^(∘) ⋅ Δ t ⋅ (f_(B 2) − f_(B 1)) ${\Delta\; t} = {{d_{2} - d_{1}} = \frac{\phi_{2} - \phi_{1}}{360{{^\circ} \cdot \left( {f_{B\; 2} - f_{B\; 1}} \right)}}}$

In step 208, the in-phase component r_(I)(t) and the quadrature component r_(Q)(t) of the signal r(t) corresponding to other input signal y(t) (for example, the signal y(t) inputted afterward when the receiver performs its function normally) is compensated according to the obtained IQ delay mismatch Δt. Referring to FIG. 4, a block diagram of a simplified receiver with the compensation circuit is shown. The in-phase component r_(I)(t) and a quadrature component r_(Q)(t) are converted to digital in-phase component r_(I)′(t) and digital quadrature component r_(Q)′(t) by analog to digital circuits (ADC) 402 and 404, respectively, and then the digital in-phase component r_(I)′(t) and digital quadrature component r_(Q)′(t) are inputted to the compensation circuit 406. The compensation circuit 406 in the receiver 400 can be accomplished by using a finite impulse response (FIR) filter, which is characterized by matrix h:

${h = \left\lbrack {{1 - \frac{{\Delta\; t}}{t_{s}}},\frac{{\Delta\; t}}{t_{s}}} \right\rbrack};{t_{s} = \frac{1}{f_{s}}}$

where t_(s) is the sample period of the ADC 402 and ADC 404 which generating r′_(I)(t) and r′_(Q)(t) in the receiver 300, and f_(s) is the sample frequency of the ADC 402 and ADC 404 which generating r′_(I)(t) and r′_(Q)(t) in the receiver 300.

One example of the compensation matrix for the compensation circuit 406 is

${\begin{bmatrix} h_{1} & 0 \\ 0 & h_{2} \end{bmatrix}\begin{bmatrix} 1 & {{- \tan}\frac{\theta}{2}} \\ {{- \tan}\frac{\theta}{2}} & 1 \end{bmatrix}}\begin{bmatrix} 1 & 0 \\ 0 & \frac{1 + \frac{ɛ}{2}}{1 - \frac{ɛ}{2}} \end{bmatrix}$

If Δt<0, it means r_(I)′(t) leads r_(Q)′(t), then h1=h, h2=1. On the other hand, if Δt>0, it means r_(I)′(t) lags r_(Q)′(t), then h1=1, h2=h. The corresponding block diagram of the compensation circuit 406 is shown in FIG. 5.

After the digital in-phase component r_(I)′(t) and digital quadrature component r_(Q)′(t) are processed by the compensation circuit 406, the in-phase component r_(I)″(t) and a quadrature component r_(Q)″(t) of the signal r″(t) are generated. The signal r″(t) with compensated frequency dependent phase imbalance will improve the performance of the receiver 300.

Since all steps of the method are accomplished in time domain, no Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) is need. Therefore, the circuit complexity of the compensation circuit and the receiver is reduced with low cost and high efficiency. Beside the frequency dependent phase imbalance due to the different lengths of the transmission lines, the frequency dependent phase imbalance caused by other reason, for example, caused by the mismatch of filters that will produce group delay mismatch between in-phase and quadrature phase signals, can also be compensated by using this method.

The Second Embodiment

A method for compensating the frequency dependent phase imbalance in a transmitter according to one embodiment of the invention is described below. The transmitter processing a baseband signal x(t), the baseband signal x(t) has a first component x_(I)(t) and a second component x_(Q)(t) which have angular frequency ω_(B). The method includes the following steps shown in FIG. 6. In step 602, the baseband signal x(t) is compensated with a predetermined delay amounts τ. In step 604, the compensated baseband signal x(t) is inputted to an upconversion circuit to generate a radio frequency (RF) signal y(t). In step 606, the RF signal y(t) is inputted to a delay information extractor to obtain a correlation value related to the information of the predetermined delay amount τ. In step 608, the predetermined delay amount τ is changed and the baseband signal x(t) is compensated again with the changed predetermined delay amount τ, and steps 604 and 606 are performed again to update the correlation value. In step 610, a candidate delay amount is selected from the predetermined delay amount and the changed predetermined delay amount according to the correlation value and the updated correlation value, and the transmitter is compensated by using the candidate delay amount (e.g., the closest delay amount).

The method is further explained with one example below. Assume x(t)=x_(I)(t)+jx_(Q)(t), in which x _(I)(t)=A _(I) cos ω_(B) t+B _(I) x _(Q)(t)=A _(Q) cos ω_(B) t+B _(Q) wherein A_(I) and A_(Q) are amplitudes and B_(I) and B_(Q) are DC values.

Referring to FIG. 7, a block diagram of a simplified transmitter used for explaining this example of the embodiment is shown. The baseband signal x(t) is firstly inputted to a compensation circuit 702 which performing step 602 and a predetermined delay amounts T is set. For example, the compensation circuit 702 can be accomplished by using a FIR filter, the FIR filter is characterized by matrix h:

${h = \left\lbrack {{1 - \frac{2\tau}{t_{s}}},\frac{2\tau}{t_{s}}} \right\rbrack};{t_{s} = \frac{1}{f_{s}}}$ wherein t_(s) is the sampling period of the baseband signal x(t) in the transmitter 700, and f_(s) is the sampling frequency of the baseband signal x(t) in the transmitter 700.

One example of the compensation matrix for the compensation circuit 702 is

${\begin{bmatrix} 1 & 0 \\ 0 & \frac{1 + \frac{ɛ}{2}}{1 - \frac{ɛ}{2}} \end{bmatrix}\begin{bmatrix} 1 & {{- \tan}\frac{\theta}{2}} \\ {{- \tan}\frac{\theta}{2}} & 1 \end{bmatrix}}\begin{bmatrix} h_{1} & 0 \\ 0 & h_{2} \end{bmatrix}$

If Δt<0, it means x_(I)(t) leads x_(Q)(t), then h1=h, h2=1. On the other hand, if Δt>0, it means x_(I)(t) lags x_(Q)(t), then h1=1, h2=h. The corresponding block diagram of the compensation circuit 702 is shown in FIG. 8.

After the baseband signal x(t) is compensated with a predetermined delay amounts τ by the compensation circuit 702, the compensated baseband signal x′(t) is inputted to a upconversion circuit 704 to generate a radio frequency (RF) signal y(t) and step 604 is performed. The corresponding block diagram of the upconversion circuit 704 is shown in FIG. 9, wherein y(t)=y_(I)(t)+jy_(Q)(t), where

$\begin{bmatrix} {y_{I}(t)} \\ {y_{Q}(t)} \end{bmatrix} = {\begin{bmatrix} {\left( {1 + \frac{ɛ}{2}} \right)\cos\frac{\theta}{2}} & {\left( {1 - \frac{ɛ}{2}} \right)\sin\frac{\theta}{2}} \\ {\left( {1 + \frac{ɛ}{2}} \right)\sin\frac{\theta}{2}} & {\left( {1 - \frac{ɛ}{2}} \right)\cos\frac{\theta}{2}} \end{bmatrix}\begin{bmatrix} {{A_{I}\cos\;{\omega_{B}\left( {t + \tau} \right)}} + B_{I}} \\ {{A_{Q}\cos\;{\omega_{B}\left( {t - \tau} \right)}} + B_{Q}} \end{bmatrix}}$

The RF signal y(t) is then inputted to the delay information extractor 706 to obtain a correlation value S₂ related to the information of the predetermined delay amount τ. In one example, the correlation value S₂ is related to the information of the product of the angular frequency ω_(B) and the predetermined delay amount τ. Furthermore, the delay information extractor 706, for example, includes a squarer 708 and a correlateor 710. The squarer 708 squares the RF signal y(t). The model of the squarer 708, for example, is

$\frac{1}{2}\left\{ {y_{I}^{2} + y_{Q}^{2}} \right\}$

That is, the output signal S₁(t) of the squarer 708 is

${\left( {{\left( {{\left( {1 + \frac{ɛ}{2}} \right)^{2}A_{I}B_{I}} + {\left( {1 - \frac{ɛ}{2}} \right)^{2}A_{Q}B_{Q}}} \right)M_{1}} + {\left( {1 - \frac{ɛ^{2}}{4}} \right)\left( {{A_{I}B_{Q}} + {A_{Q}B_{I}}} \right)M_{3}}} \right)\cos\;\omega_{B}t} - {\left( {{\left( {{\left( {1 + \frac{ɛ}{2}} \right)^{2}A_{I}B_{I}} - {\left( {1 - \frac{ɛ}{2}} \right)^{2}A_{Q}B_{Q}}} \right)M_{2}} + {\left( {1 - \frac{ɛ^{2}}{4}} \right)\left( {{A_{I}B_{Q}} - {A_{Q}B_{I}}} \right)M_{4}}} \right)\sin\;\omega_{B}t}$ $\mspace{79mu}{{{wherein}\mspace{79mu}\begin{bmatrix} M_{1} & M_{2} \\ M_{3} & M_{4} \end{bmatrix}} = \begin{bmatrix} {\cos\;\omega_{B}\tau} & {\sin\;\omega_{B}\tau} \\ {\frac{1}{2}{\sin\left( {2\phi} \right)}\cos\;\omega_{B}\tau} & {\frac{1}{2}{\sin\left( {2\phi} \right)}\sin\;\omega_{B}\tau} \end{bmatrix}}$

Since 1>M₁>>M₃>M₂>>M₄, set A_(I)=A_(Q)=A,B_(I)=−B_(Q)=B, and assume gain and phase imbalance (ε and θ) has been compensated. The signal S₁(t) is derived as

$\begin{matrix} {{S_{1}(t)} = {{\left( {{\left( {{A_{I}B_{I}} + {A_{Q}B_{Q}}} \right)M_{1}} + {\left( {{A_{I}B_{Q}} + {A_{Q}B_{I}}} \right)M_{3}}} \right)\cos\;\omega_{B}t} -}} \\ {\left( {{\left( {{A_{I}B_{I}} - {A_{Q}B_{Q}}} \right)M_{2}} + {\left( {{A_{I}B_{Q}} - {A_{Q}B_{I}}} \right)M_{4}}} \right)\sin\;\omega_{B}t} \\ {= {{\left\lbrack {\left( {{A_{I}B_{I}} + {A_{Q}B_{Q}}} \right)\cos\;\omega_{B}\tau} \right\rbrack\cos\;\omega_{B}t} + {\left\lbrack {\left( {{A_{I}B_{I}} - {A_{Q}B_{Q}}} \right)\sin\;\omega_{B}\tau} \right\rbrack\sin\;\omega_{B}t}}} \\ {= {2\;{AB}\;\sin\;\omega_{B}\tau\;\sin\;\omega_{B}t}} \end{matrix}$

The signal S₁(t) is then inputted to the correlator 710, and the correlator 710 performs correlation on the signal S₁(t) by using a sine wave signal and a cosine wave signal both having the angular frequency ω_(B), and the correlator 710 generates the correlation value S₂ accordingly. The corresponding block diagram of one example of the correlator 710 is shown in FIG. 10. The signal S₁(t) is converted to digital signal by ADC 1002, and then is multiplied with cos ω_(B)t by the multiplier 1004. The result is then processed by a averager 1006 which is implemented by a adder 1008 and a delay 1010. The output of the averager 1006 is squared by squarer 1012 to generate value S_(1a). The signal S₁(t) is also converted to digital signal by ADC 1022, and then is multiplied with sin ω_(B)t by the multiplier 1024. The result is then processed by a averager 1026 which is implemented by a adder 1028 and a delay 1030. The output of the averager 1026 is squared by squarer 1032 to generate value S_(1b). The correlation value S₂ is obtained by adding the value S_(1a) and S_(1b). In this example, the correlation value S₂ is obtained as: S ₂=4A ² B ² sin² ω_(B)τ

After step 606, step 608 is preformed to change the value of delay amount (the changed delay amount is denoted as τ⁽¹⁾) and the baseband signal x(t) is inputted to compensation circuit 702 again to compensate x(t) again by using the changed delay amount τ⁽¹⁾. The steps 604 and 606 are performed again with updated compensated baseband signal x′(t). A updated correlation value (the updated correlation value is denoted as S₂ ⁽¹⁾) is accordingly generated by the delay information extractor 706. In step 610, a candidate delay amount τ′ is selected from the predetermined delay amount τ and the changed delay amount is denoted as τ⁽¹⁾ according to the correlation value S₂ and the updated correlation value S₂ ⁽¹⁾. The transmitter will be compensated by using the candidate delay amount τ′. That is, after the method is completed, other input signal of the transmitter will be compensated by compensation circuit 702 by using the candidate delay amount τ′.

Since the delay amount corresponding to lower correlation value is close to value of the actual frequency dependent phase imbalance between x_(I)(t) and x_(Q)(t) when x_(I)(t) and x_(Q)(t) is transmitted in the transmitter, it is preferred that the candidate delay amount τ′ corresponding to the smaller one of the correlation value S₂ and the updated correlation value S₂ ⁽¹⁾ is chosen as the delay amount for the transmitter. That is, if the updated correlation value S₂ ⁽¹⁾ is smaller than the correlation value S₂, then the candidate delay amount τ′ and is chosen as the delay amount for the transmitter.

In other example of the embodiment, more than two delay amounts τ can be chosen to perform steps 602 to 610, and one among these delay amounts τ which corresponding to the smallest correlation value S₂ can be chosen as the candidate delay amount τ′, which is used to compensate the input signal of transmitter when the transmitter operates in normal state.

All steps 602 to 610 above of the method can be accomplished in time domain. Therefore, FFT is not necessary for this method and the circuit complexity is reduced with low cost and high efficiency. Beside the frequency dependent phase imbalance due to the different lengths of the transmission line, the frequency dependent phase imbalance caused by other reason, for example, caused by the mismatch of filters or caused by group delay of signal, can also be compensated by using this method.

While the invention has been described by way of example and in terms of the preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements and procedures, and the scope of the appended claims therefore should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements and procedures. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for compensating the frequency dependent phase imbalance in a receiver, the receiver downconverting an input signal to generate a signal r(t), the signal r(t) having an in-phase component r_(I)(t) and a quadrature component r_(Q)(t), the method comprising: applying a first test signal with a first carrier frequency as the input signal of the receiver to obtain a first phase imbalance between the in-phase component and the quadrature component of the signal r(t) corresponding to the first test signal; applying a second test signal with a second carrier frequency as the input signal of the receiver to obtain a second phase imbalance between the in-phase component and the quadrature component of the signal r(t) corresponding to the second test signal; obtaining a IQ delay mismatch Δt of the receiver according to the difference of the second phase imbalance and the first phase imbalance and the difference of the second carrier frequency and the first carrier frequency; and compensating the in-phase component r_(I)(t) and the quadrature component r_(Q)(t) of the signal r(t) corresponding to other input signal according to the obtained IQ delay mismatch Δt; wherein the second carrier frequency is different from the first carrier frequency.
 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the IQ delay mismatch Δt is obtained according to an equation: ${\Delta\; t} = \frac{\phi_{2} - \phi_{1}}{360{{^\circ} \cdot \left( {f_{B\; 2} - f_{B\; 1}} \right)}}$ wherein f_(B1) and f_(B2) represent the first carrier frequency and the second carrier frequency, respectively, and φ₁ and φ₂ represent the first phase imbalance and the second phase imbalance, respectively.
 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of compensating the IQ delay mismatch of the in-phase component I(t) and the quadrature component Q(t) of the signal r(t) is accomplished by using a finite impulse response (FIR) filter.
 4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the FIR filter is characterized by matrix h: ${h = \left\lbrack {{1 - \frac{{\Delta\; t}}{t_{s}}},\frac{{\Delta\; t}}{t_{s}}} \right\rbrack};{t_{s} = \frac{1}{f_{s}}}$ wherein, t_(s) is a sampling period used to generate the in-phase component r_(I)(t) and the quadrature component r_(Q)(t) in the receiver, and f_(s) is a sampling frequency used to generate the in-phase component r_(I)(t) and the quadrature component r_(Q)(t) in the receiver.
 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein all steps of the method are accomplished in time domain.
 6. An apparatus for compensating the frequency dependent phase imbalance in a receiver, the receiver downconverting an input signal to generate a signal r(t), the signal r(t) having an in-phase component r_(I)(t) and a quadrature component r_(Q)(t), the apparatus comprising: means for applying a first test signal with a first carrier frequency as the input signal of the receiver to obtain a first phase imbalance between the in-phase component and the quadrature component of the signal r(t) corresponding to the first test signal; means for applying a second test signal with a second carrier frequency as the input signal of the receiver to obtain a second phase imbalance between the in-phase component and the quadrature component of the signal r(t) corresponding to the second test signal; means for obtaining a IQ delay mismatch Δt of the receiver according to the difference of the second phase imbalance and the first phase imbalance and the difference of the second carrier frequency and the first carrier frequency; and means for compensating the in-phase component r_(I)(t) and the quadrature component r_(Q)(t) of the signal r(t) corresponding to other input signal according to the obtained IQ delay mismatch Δt; wherein the second carrier frequency is different from the first carrier frequency.
 7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the IQ delay mismatch Δt is obtained according to an equation: ${\Delta\; t} = \frac{\phi_{2} - \phi_{1}}{360{{^\circ} \cdot \left( {f_{B\; 2} - f_{B\; 1}} \right)}}$ wherein f_(B1) and f_(B2) represent the first carrier frequency and the second carrier frequency, respectively, and φ₁ and φ₂ represent the first phase imbalance and the second phase imbalance, respectively.
 8. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein means for compensating the IQ delay mismatch of the in-phase component I(t) and the quadrature component Q(t) of the signal r(t) is accomplished by using a finite impulse response (FIR) filter.
 9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the FIR filter is characterized by matrix h: ${h = \left\lbrack {{1 - \frac{{\Delta\; t}}{t_{s}}},\frac{{\Delta\; t}}{t_{s}}} \right\rbrack};{t_{s} = \frac{1}{f_{s}}}$ wherein, t_(s) is a sampling period used to generate the in-phase component r_(I)(t) and the quadrature component r_(Q)(t) in the receiver, and f_(s) is a sampling frequency used to generate the in-phase component r_(I)(t) and the quadrature component r_(Q)(t) in the receiver.
 10. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the apparatus are accomplished in time domain. 